Avid Pickleball Players Enjoy New Courts at McRae Park

ALPENA, MI – After over a year of planning and preparation, avid pickleball players of Alpena have a new facility at McRae Park to play on.

Originally marking off tennis courts at Bay View Park, avid players envisioned a new location with regulation-sized courts in Alpena. Specifically, the vision was executed by avid player, Ron Fusina. “I felt that the people of Alpena would just love to play on dedicated courts,” he said.

The idea sprouted from the minds of Fusina and Rocky Roland, another avid player. The project kicked into high gear during fall with Fusina proposing the idea to the city, searching for the ideal spot and fundraising. Surprisingly, it only took 10 months for their dream to become a reality and the number of players is growing rapidly. “There’s between 50 and 60 players in town that I know of,” said Roland. “That’s a pretty good number in a town this size.”

Additionally, the courts aren’t just meant for seasoned professionals. The facility is meant for people of all ages and skill sets to enjoy. “Most of these people have played some sport,” said Roland. “All of those translate right into pickleball and this is a sport you can play.”